Sanders shines for Gamecocks in Outback win

Published: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 9:02 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 9:02 p.m.

When it wasn't Connor Shaw leading South Carolina's offense, Dylan Thompson filled in quite well.

In fact, Thompson finished off the Gamecocks' final drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Ellington with 11 seconds left as South Carolina pulled out a 33-28 win over Michigan in the 27th Outback Bowl on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium.

Former Manatee High standout Ace Sanders was named the game's most outstanding player, accounting for three Gamecock touchdowns. He had 92 yards on a season-high nine catches, two for scores (one from each Carolina QB), and had a 63-yard punt return in the first quarter as the Gamecocks finished off their second straight 11-2 season.

The Wolverines (8-5) had taken a 28-27 lead with 3:29 left on Devin Gardner's 17-yard scoring strike to Jeremy Gallon. That was the third of four lead changes in the second half.

South Carolina got two key catches from Sanders, both from Shaw. On the second one, Shaw's foot problems resurfaced.

In came Thompson. And the sophomore was more than ready.

He got another first down at the Michigan 32 before he spiked the ball to stop the clock with 17 seconds left. On the next play Ellington, who usually returns kicks, outwitted three Wolverine defenders and eluded them into the end zone after catching the pass at the 2.

“We take pride in winning the fourth quarter,” said Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. “We hadn't won one like that in a while. I haven't had to give a game ball to two quarterbacks.”

Gardner had one chance from his 32, but he never got off a good pass. He finished 18-for-36 for 214 yards.

“He played pretty well,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said of his receiver-turned-quarterback. “He missed a couple of throws, but it was more mechanics.”

Down 21-13, Michigan closed the gap with a 52-yard field goal by punter Matt Wile midway through the third quarter. Gardner hit Gallon from 10 yards out with 2 seconds left in the period to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game at 22-21.

Michigan got a very favorable spot after a fake punt, getting just enough for a first down at its 41. The Carolina sideline erupted at the stretch of the chains — it looked like it was short — but the controversy was short-lived.

On the next play, sophomore All-American defensive end Jadeveon Clowney laid a jarring hit on Vincent Smith.

Thompson had seen him make a hit like that in high school. Sanders said it sounded like a car crash.

“I didn't see it, but I heard it,” Ellington said. “I saw the replay and he shot right through.”

Smith never found the handle on the ball. Clowney recovered, and on the next play, Sanders outreached Raymon Taylor to grab a Shaw pass with 8:01 left. A try for two points missed, so Carolina's lead was 27-22.

"(Taylor) wasn't in a bad position . . . (Sanders) just made a good play,” Hoke said.

Shaw (18 of 26 for 224 yards) and Thompson (7 of 10 for 117) combined for 341 passing yards.

<p>When it wasn't Connor Shaw leading South Carolina's offense, Dylan Thompson filled in quite well. </p><p>In fact, Thompson finished off the Gamecocks' final drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Ellington with 11 seconds left as South Carolina pulled out a 33-28 win over Michigan in the 27th Outback Bowl on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium.</p><p>Former Manatee High standout Ace Sanders was named the game's most outstanding player, accounting for three Gamecock touchdowns. He had 92 yards on a season-high nine catches, two for scores (one from each Carolina QB), and had a 63-yard punt return in the first quarter as the Gamecocks finished off their second straight 11-2 season.</p><p>The Wolverines (8-5) had taken a 28-27 lead with 3:29 left on Devin Gardner's 17-yard scoring strike to Jeremy Gallon. That was the third of four lead changes in the second half.</p><p>South Carolina got two key catches from Sanders, both from Shaw. On the second one, Shaw's foot problems resurfaced.</p><p>In came Thompson. And the sophomore was more than ready.</p><p>He got another first down at the Michigan 32 before he spiked the ball to stop the clock with 17 seconds left. On the next play Ellington, who usually returns kicks, outwitted three Wolverine defenders and eluded them into the end zone after catching the pass at the 2.</p><p>“We take pride in winning the fourth quarter,” said Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. “We hadn't won one like that in a while. I haven't had to give a game ball to two quarterbacks.”</p><p>Gardner had one chance from his 32, but he never got off a good pass. He finished 18-for-36 for 214 yards.</p><p>“He played pretty well,” Michigan coach Brady Hoke said of his receiver-turned-quarterback. “He missed a couple of throws, but it was more mechanics.”</p><p>Down 21-13, Michigan closed the gap with a 52-yard field goal by punter Matt Wile midway through the third quarter. Gardner hit Gallon from 10 yards out with 2 seconds left in the period to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game at 22-21.</p><p>Michigan got a very favorable spot after a fake punt, getting just enough for a first down at its 41. The Carolina sideline erupted at the stretch of the chains — it looked like it was short — but the controversy was short-lived.</p><p>On the next play, sophomore All-American defensive end Jadeveon Clowney laid a jarring hit on Vincent Smith.</p><p>Thompson had seen him make a hit like that in high school. Sanders said it sounded like a car crash.</p><p>“I didn't see it, but I heard it,” Ellington said. “I saw the replay and he shot right through.”</p><p>Smith never found the handle on the ball. Clowney recovered, and on the next play, Sanders outreached Raymon Taylor to grab a Shaw pass with 8:01 left. A try for two points missed, <CP9.2>so Carolina's lead was <!--stayed at -->27-22.</CP></p><p>"(Taylor) wasn't in a bad position . . . (Sanders) just made a good play,” Hoke said.<!-- “The one at the end, we had three deep and we just didn't do a good enough job with it.”--></p><p>Shaw (18 of 26 for 224 yards) and Thompson (7 of 10 for 117) combined for 341 passing yards.<!-- Michigan had not allowed 200 passing yards to any team this season.--></p><p><!--“Michigan outplayed us, but we left some out there,” Spurrier said.</p><p>Michigan ran 82 plays to Carolina's 53, but the Gamecocks had a 426-355 edge in total offense.</p><p>South Carolina got the perfect start, needing just three plays and 94 seconds to get on the board. Shaw hit Damiere Byrd on a 56-yard scoring strike.</p><p>Michigan's first points came on a 39-yard Brendan Gibbons field goal midway through the first quarter. A 26-yard Gardner-to-Gallon pass keyed the drive.</p><p>A swap of punts turned favorable for the Gamecocks. Sanders took Wile's kick at his 37, weaved around two defenders and outran the Michigan punter to the end zone on a 63-yard punt return with 3:29 left in the first.</p><p>The Wolverines answered with a 75-yard drive that bridged the first and second quarter. Gardner hit Roy Roundtree for 16 yards to end the first, then 2:19 into the second, he shoveled a pass to Drew Dileo for a 5-yard touchdown.</p><p>Back came Carolina. Thompson relieved Shaw and hit Nick Jones over the middle for 70 yards on a third-and-9. On the next play, Thompson threw a 4-yard scoring strike to an open Sanders, who caught it at the goal line with 10:54 left in the first half.</p><p>“I was more worried about my assignments,” Sanders said. “I didn't have time to notice who was at quarterback.”</p>